Reread of the Hawk: An Update

Due to outside time commitments, Reread of the Hawk will likely be a bit sporadic over the next few weeks, but actual updates will still follow the rough 'Sunday or Monday' schedule.

Reread of the Hawk: Berserk, Volume 23

What Happens

Winter Journey, Chapters 1-2

Protecting Casca from Interstice spirits night after night is wearying for Guts, especially when he remembers how she used to be. After going to sleep one morning he dreams about the Beast of Darkness, who asks him if Casca is really that precious to him, or just a reminder that lets him fuel his hate? After all, she’d be the perfect sacrifice to bring him closer to Griffith. He wakes up with a start and assures himself that could never be.

When he stops Casca from crawling away one night a spirit briefly possesses him just before the sun rises and she’s able to sense what the Beast of Darkness talked about. She becomes distrustful again and he starts leading her along by a rope, insisting to Puck it’s the only way. He starts to wonder if the burden of protecting her like this is too much.

Scattered Time

Casca escapes and is found by bandits after Guts accidentally dozes off. They try to rape her, but that triggers flashbacks to the Eclipse, and Guts finds her standing over their dead bodies holding one of their swords. She tries to lunge at him, but he forces her to the ground and starts kissing her.

Fangs of Ego

As Guts kisses Casca the Beast almost overwhelms him but he pulls back in time.

He and Puck had split up to look for her, and the latter spots Isidro running away carrying an armload of food he stole from Farnese and Serpico. They catch up after Serpico trips him with a thrown stick (is that his signature move?), then Puck checks and yep, Farnese can see him now. She faints.

Puck takes them back to Guts. Isidro demands that Guts train him as repayment for his earlier help but is ignored. Farnese asks Guts to let her travel with him.

Reread of the Hawk: Berserk, Volume 22

Tuesday's...kinda like Monday, right? Eh, here it is. Volume 23 is still on track for next weekend.

What Happens

The Rent World

Guts and Casca return to Godo’s home and find Erica at his grave. She suggests that everyone stay and Guts, whom Casca is now less uneasy around, seemingly agrees. But he’s also disturbed that he felt no urge to kill when he saw Griffith at St. Albion’s.

Erica tells him Rickert has a visitor, who says he’s an old friend. Long white hair, looks like a girl, all Prince Charming-like, maybe someone Guts knows too…

Reunion on the Hill of Swords

At the grave of the Hawks, Guts tries to do exactly what you’d expect but Rickert stops him, shocked that he’s so angry; Griffith remarks that he never changes. Guts demands to know why he’s here, and Griffith says it’s to see if he feels anything seeing Guts again; he doesn’t. Guts throws Rickert aside and lunges at him, but is parried by Zodd.

Beast Swordsman vs. the Black Swordsman

Guts and Zodd fight. Rickert is astounded by their skill. Griffith feels some faint stirrings and ascribes them to the homunculus, who became his vessel.

Unchanged

Zodd decides to get serious and switches to his Apostle form, but Guts evades and sends him crashing into Godo’s ore cave. Drawn to the scene by the Brand, Casca is almost crushed when he bursts from the cave but is saved by Griffith, who calls off Zodd and climbs onto his back.

Reread of the Hawk: Berserk, Volume 21

This is last week's. This week's should be up either tomorrow or Monday (and since I just need to finish the commentary, that's probably for reals)

What Happens

Leaping Fish

Using a wooden beam and some rope from the rubble, Isidro, Nina, and Jerome are able to free Casca, dropping the former down to cut her bonds and using a stone tied to the other end to pull them back up. This prompts some dive-bombing by Mozgus, which they barely avoid. Guts fights his way through the spirits atop the tower and jumps down, his sword piercing Mozgus’s chest.

Bestial Priest, Chapters 1-2

Mozgus smashes into the battlements but quickly rises to his feet with his new form fully revealed. His wings end in two massive fists, and his body is covered in feather-like scales and harder than steel. He reveals that the copy of the scriptures he wears against his chest is what saved him and vows to punish Guts in Heaven’s name and avenge the deaths of his men.

Nina panics and tries to slip away. The twins catch her between their giant saw-blades, but before they can cut her in two she stumbles and falls over the side of the battlements. Puck blinds the twins with a flash and Isidro hits them with stones, knocking them to the battlement. Jerome cuts their heads off.

Those Who Cling, Those Who Struggle

It’s near impossible for Guts to dodge Mozgus, who seems to have no weak spot. Below, the masses desperately call out to him for salvation, urging him to burn the witch. He asks if Guts is deaf to so many pleas, but Guts says they shouldn’t put all their hopes in one thing. He spots a wound where the scriptures stopped his sword before, and during Mozgus’s next attack he tosses some of Puck’s bombs into it. The explosion injures and distracts Mozgus, and Guts’s sword pierces his throat.

Reread of the Hawk: Berserk, Volume 20

What Happens

The Spider’s Thread

As the spirits burst through the chapel door, the spider-thing stings Mozgus and his men. Isidro, Nina, Luca, and Jerome flee up the stairs towards the chapel but become trapped between the spirits at the door and those behind them. Then a pillar of flame bursts through the door, burning away the spirits and exposing an unconscious Casca. She falls into the arms of the fire’s source – Mozgus, who vows to complete his holy mission by burning the “witch” at the stake. One of his men, the midget, recognizes Nina as Casca’s companion. The cone-headed one attacks them, using his weapon, a four-pronged grip attached to a chain, to tear a chunk from a pillar and launch it at the four. It misses but leaves a large hole in the wall, which causes part of the floor to give way, sending Nina and Luca over the edge, the former caught by Isidro and Jerome while she holds Luca tenuously by the hand.

Those Who Dance at the Summit, Those Who Creep in the Depths

Luca lets go of Nina’s hands, but as she falls the Skull Knight catches her. Behind the others cone-head throws another chunk of pillar, but before it can hit them Guts, guided to the top of the tower by Puck’s sensing of Casca’s presence, smashes through it He narrowly misses Mozgus, who realizes Guts is the renowned Black Swordsman. He refuses to relinquish Casca as he and his men unfurl their wings.

The Skull Knight lands in what he tells Luca are the burial grounds at the base of the tower. He senses something else there, and an egg-shaped shadow slowly approaches.

Hell’s Angels

Guts fights the torturers and they smash up the chapel between them. The others and a newly-arrived Farnese look on in astonishment (except Puck; he’s seen more impressive).

Reread of the Hawk: Berserk, Volume 19

What Happens

The Black Swordsman on Holy Ground

The heretics insist on bringing Casca clothing and jewels (where’d they get those?) as tribute, and both Luca and Nina are worried about being found out. Some of the Knights have arrested one of the other prostitutes, whom Luca tries to help by interposing herself between her and the leader’s whip. Then Guts shows up and demands to know if they’ve apprehended a woman with a brand on her chest. The leader insists he doesn’t know, and Guts kills the two who charge him after he tosses the former aside.

Straying

Guts kills two more of the Knights. Emboldened, someone in the crowd throws a stone at the leader. Intimidated by their glares, he backs off and the Knights leave. Luca takes Guts to their tent, but Casca and Nina are gone. The latter, who’d argued for turning Casca out, has taken her to the heretics. Isidro and Puck see them and follow them, the former planning to use rescuing Casca as leverage to get Guts to train him.

Ambition Boy

Joachim is brought to Farnese and agrees to lead the Knights to the heretics’ hideout. She is also informed that Guts is here but refuses to try and capture him.

At the hideout, the heretics plan to cut out Nina’s heart as an offering to the “witch” Casca, who will then “mingle” with the man who takes on the role of the Great Goat. Before they can kill Nina Isidro starts throwing rocks, telling Puck to fetch Guts. The heretics try to catch Isidro, but Interstice spirits emerge from the cauldron smoke, drawn by Casca’s Brand. The Knights arrive to find not only heretics, but possessed ones.

Reread of the Hawk: Berserk, Volume 18

It's alive!

I'd give an explanation for the long absence, but it'd just be excuses. I'm also not sure this one is as good as it theoretically could be given the time I've had, but I've let things slide enough and giving it 'just a bit more time' probably isn't going to change much at this point.

So without further ado, let's get back into this:

What Happens

Kushan Scouts, Chapters 1-2

In an abandoned village a boy named Isidro watches from hiding as a group of Kushan scouts easily dispatch a band of mercenaries. Then Guts walks through town and kills them just as easily. On a nearby hilltop Silat reminds his men they’re here to scout, not intervene – yet, and warns them not to underestimate Guts.

Tower of Shadow, Chapters 1-2

At St. Albion’s, some of the refugees are so desperate they try to steal food from a wagon bringing tribute to the monastery. They are quickly surrounded by Farnese and her men, but one woman pleads for her child, who’s too sick to even nurse. Mozgus overhears and commends the woman for her concern, promising to show mercy.

The would-be thieves are taken into the monastery. The woman’s baby is brought to a physician, and Mozgus promises her he will receive proper care. Then he takes her to the torture chamber to pay for her crime with her fellow refugees. Farnese is horrified by the hellish spectacle unfolding within, but Mozgus tells her she must not look away – God is not only benevolent but a judge as well.

Jerome, one of the Holy Iron Chain Knights, takes his leave of Luca. He gives her food as the usual payment but also a necklace as a sign of his favor, promising to make her his mistress when he returns home. But Luca makes a point of not believing everything johns tell her and shares the beads with her fellow prostitutes. She has them share half the food among their neighbours to maintain goodwill. They keep Casca, whom they call Elaine because she can’t tell them her real name, swathed in bandages, claiming she has syphilis; they’re worried some of the men in the camp won’t be able to resist a pretty girl who can’t say ‘no.’

Reread of the Hawk: Berserk, Volume 17

Halfway through! Yahoo!

What Happens

The Unseen

Puck steals the keys and frees Guts (after wringing out a thank you). They sneak back to Farnese’s tent to get Guts’s things and knock her out, but a guard spots them and forces Guts to take her hostage to escape. He sets her tent on fire and lets the horses loose, but Serpico follows behind him in the confusion.

When Farnese regains consciousness Guts tells her he’s not letting her go until she answers some questions, dangling her over the rocky ground when she refuses to cooperate. Puck tries to apologize for Guts’s behaviour but realizes she can’t see him. Serpico, however, seems to see the spirits that fly past him.

Night of Miracles

The spirits swarm Guts and the others. Farnese can feel their touch if not see them. The horse stumbles and throws them off, into a pack of wild dogs the spirits promptly possess. Farnese refuses to believe her eyes, but Guts tells her that’s why it’s a miracle as he starts killing them.

Past and Future

Farnese tries to mount the horse and run, but it’s possessed too, and almost does things the other way around. Guts rushes back and decapitates it. Puck wonders why that provoked him so much and receives an impression of Casca’s rape.

As the sun comes up Farnese is shaken by the fact she was unable to call on God the entire time.

Reread of the Hawk: Berserk, Volume 16

In hindsight, I probably shouldn't have said "definitely."

What Happens

Monster

Jill’s father (his name is Zepek) and the Holy Iron Chain Knights arrive at the site of Guts’s battle with the guardians, who are so thoroughly scattered and mutilated it’s initially taken to be the work of cannon and a whole squad of soldiers. Serpico, one of Farnese’s lieutenants, deduces that nope, it’s actually one man with a really big sword. The Knights are now convinced Guts is the prophesied Hawk of Darkness.

The elves swarm Guts, but he kills them by diving into the flames, extinguishing himself with the fluid from a cocoon.

Sky Demon

Rosine tries to attack Guts, but the trees prevent her from maneuvering. Amidst the flames she transforms into her full Apostle form. Everything is in ruins, but she vows that she’ll fly elsewhere and start anew, so long as she has Jill. But first, Guts has to pay.

Reread of the Hawk: Berserk, Volume 15

Okaaayyy...This is way later than it should have been and I don't have any real excuse for it. Let's see if we can get back on track. The next update will definitely be up next Sunday.

What Happens

Queen

Seeing the elves’ mischievous attitude and disdain for “grown-ups”, Puck realizes they’re children – human children. Seeing Puck talking to Guts, the queen, larger than the rest, tauntingly calls him “Peekaf”, and Jill seems to recognize her voice. She throws herself in front of Guts when the queen tries to attack him, calling her “Rosine.” Hearing this, the queen calls the others off and leaves.

The villagers are horrified by Guts’s actions, but he only laughs, reminding them that none of them raised a finger to help the boy. Then someone realizes there are bodies burning in the wreckage – children’s bodies.

Reread of the Hawk: Berserk, Volume 14

This is last Sunday's update (late, obviously) in the interest of keeping a once-a-week schedule. The next volume will be up (hopefully - I have a busy weekend ahead) on Sunday.

What Happens

Demon Infant

The Skull Knight explains that the cave he brought Guts and Casca to will hide them from demons. Elves used to live in these mountains, so the earth’s energy remains strong and thus shields their presence (is there a fantasy equivalent of technobabble?). He also says the fortuitous circumstances of the last few days are all a matter of chance.

Casca is surrounded by spirits, but they’re not attacking her. She suddenly collapses in pain, and something small and fetus-like drops out from between her legs. The Skull Knight says it’s her child, corrupted when she was raped by Griffith, and it would be best to kill it now; it will only cause trouble. But Casca desperately tries to defend it, Guts hesitates since it’s obvious who the father is, and the child vanishes with the daylight. The Skull Knight realizes what’s going on and tells Guts he’ll see it again – children yearn for their parents, after all.

Reread of the Hawk: Berserk, Volume 13

The longest one yet, but hey, the Eclipse is a pivotal part of the story and deserves the extra analysis.

What Happens

Storm of Death, Chapters 1-2

As Rickert watches from hiding, Zodd and the Skull Knight continue to fight. Zodd is ostensibly supposed to be guarding the way into the whirlwind but claims he’s only interested in continuing his feud with the latter, who does not deny that he came because of his millennium-long rivalry with the Godhand.

Inside the whirlwind, Corkus flees in terror, convincing himself everything has been a dream before allowing himself to be killed by a demon disguised as a naked woman. Casca is rescued by Pippin and Judeau, the former buying them time while the latter carries her off on horseback. Despite his best efforts to protect her, Judeau is killed. As he dies he reflects to himself that he never got his chance to tell Casca “that important thing.” Demons swarm over Casca, tearing off her clothes and armor.

Reread of the Hawk: Berserk, Volume 12

What Happens

Requiem of the Wind

At the Midland border, Casca finally explains the truth of Griffith’s condition and it starts to truly sink in – the Band of the Hawk is finished. Someone mentions that Casca could still take command, but Judeau says that’s asking too much of her after everything she’s done already. However, she says she’ll think about it until they meet up with Rickert’s group.

Guts wants to tell everyone not to give up, but Casca stops him, telling him afterwards that such words hold no weight with Griffith the way he is. From inside his wagon, Griffith sees them as Casca rests her head on Guts’s chest.

Reread of the Hawk: Berserk, Volume 11

What Happens

Devil Dogs, Chapters 1-4

The Black Dog Knights were created during the war, when a shortage of troops forced the King to draw on the able-bodied criminals of the kingdom. Their prowess was equal to the Hawks, but they were notorious for butchery and plunder regardless of which side their victims were on, tolerated only out of need and sent to remote battlefields. Worst of all is their leader Wyald, and the King believes he isn’t even human.

A family of farmers is more than happy to help the hero Griffith by giving the Hawks a place to rest and lending them a cart, but after they leave the Black Dogs show up, killing the family but raping the women first. As they pursue the Hawks Guts breaks away to buy the others time, meaning to do it alone but offering no objection when Pippin joins him. But no matter how many they kill the Black Dogs keep coming, and Guts realizes it’s because they’re afraid of Wyald, who steps up to fight Guts and stops his sword bare-handed. Guts realizes Wyald’s giving off the same feeling he got from Zodd and the Skull Knight.

Breaking away from the fight, Guts and Pippin make it over the nearby bridge just as Casca sets off the barrels of gunpowder they planted underneath. Many of the Black Dogs are killed, and the others are reluctant to follow directly when the rest of the road is likely booby-trapped as well, but the thrill-seeking Wyald scares them into action, exulting as he plows through every trap the Hawks have set.

They reach Corkus and the rest of the rescue team, and Guts challenges Wyald while the others fight his men. Wyald mentions hearing about Guts from Zodd, which confirms the latter’s suspicions. It takes everything Guts has to stand against him, yet he’s fighting by pure reflex.

Reread of the Hawk: Berserk, Volume 10

What Happens

Sparks From a Sword Tip

For the past year, Guts has been living in the mountains with a man named Godo, who’s been a blacksmith all his life but has never questioned why he does it. However, seeing the sparks when he hammers iron makes him feel like he’s seeing his life before his eyes. Hearing this, Guts draws a parallel to what happens when he swings his sword in battle, and he realizes that’s truly the life for him.

                                                                                      

Back in the present, Casca asks Guts is he’s back for good, but he isn’t – only long enough to rescue Griffith. She gets angry over that, complaining that he’s just like Griffith, thinking only of himself and his dream. Then he suggests she come with him when the rescue’s over.

Reread of the Hawk: Berserk, Volume 9

What Happens

Knight of Skeleton

Camping alone in the woods, Guts encounters a mysterious stranger – a knight with a skull-shaped helmet who gives Guts, whom he calls the “Struggler,” a warning: in one year the Eclipse will occur, when Guts and all his friends will be gathered together with “those yet unseen of the fleshless flesh” to face a death they cannot escape.

It is raining back in Windham as Griffith is admitted to Princess Charlotte’s room through the window. She tries to tell him about the emotional turmoil she’s been through in the past half-year, what with his departure for battle and the death of her stepmother, but Griffith just kisses her.

Reread of the Hawk: Berserk, Volume 8

What Happens

The Battle for Doldrey, Chapters 5-6

Despite the paralyzing effect of the poison Casca manages to kill Sir Adon. Outside, Guts finds himself unhorsed, his sword split in two by Boscogn’s pole-axe. Then a large, cleaver-like sword drops from the heavens (thrown from a nearby clifftop by an unseen Zodd). Guts uses it to simultaneously decapitate Boscogn and his horse, and the defenders are thrown into a panic when they see the flag of the Hawks flying from Doldrey’s ramparts.

With Doldrey fallen the Holy Purple Rhino Knights retreat in disarray. Gennon pleads with Griffith, begging him to remember the night they shared together. But Griffith tells Gennon he feels nothing at all for him, he was only a tool to be used and discarded, and kills him. As the Hawks celebrate their victory, Zodd reflects that the time of the Eclipse will soon be at hand as he takes his leave.

Reread of the Hawk: Berserk, Volume 7

What Happens

Casca, Chapter 3

Following her rescue, Casca managed to make a life for herself as a mercenary. The fledgling Band of the Hawk continued to grow as it won victories on the battlefield, the men inspired by their heroic commander who retained a boyish innocence in spite of his achievements. But, as Casca would soon realize, his life was much darker beneath the surface.

The Hawks had found employment with a wealthy lord whose taste for young boys was an open secret. One night Casca spotted a (shirtless) Griffith on a nearby balcony, and saw the nobleman take him inside. The next morning she found him down at the river, tormented by what he had done but insisting he needed the money, and satiating a nobleman’s deviant lusts was better than earning it by fighting more battles; that would only cost them more troops, and the fact that so many already died helping him achieve his dream is tormenting him enough. It was then that Casca, awed by the strength of his conviction, vowed to give everything she had for him.

Reread of the Hawk: Berserk, Volume 6

What Happens

Master of the Sword, Chapter 2

Count Julius, the King’s brother, resents the rising prestige of commoners like Griffith, and how easily the King seems to accept it. Foss, one of the Royal Ministers, informs him of the rumor that his White Dragon Knights, one of the most distinguished units of the Midland army, may be replaced as the King’s bodyguard for the autumnal hunt, an honor they have always had, by none other than the Band of the Hawk. The Count is furious, but Foss reminds him that hunts are dangerous things, and you never know when a stray arrow might strike the wrong target…

Reread of the Hawk: Berserk, Volume 5

What Happens

The Golden Age, Chapters 7-8

Guts successfully delays the enemy cavalry, his one brush with death averted by the timely return of Griffith, Pippin, and Judeau. Together they lead the enemy into the teeth of waiting cannons, forcing them to retreat. As Hawks celebrate their victory Guts is dragged from his attempted solitude and hailed by the men as one of them.

The next morning, Guts is summoned to see Griffith, and he finds him by the castle well, still naked after his morning bath. He douses Guts, which sparks a water fight. Afterwards, Guts notices Griffith is wearing a strange necklace, which the latter says he bought from a gypsy fortune teller, calling it the Behelit, and to Guts’s surprise, it seems to be alive. Griffith explains that according to legend the Behelit can offer its bearer the world in exchange for his flesh and blood. He then reveals to Guts his personal ambition – to someday have a kingdom of his own. Guts doubts the feasibility of it, but is struck by the strength of Griffith’s vision compared to his own aimlessness.